Republicans seeking Fifth District seat meet in Carroll

The five major party candidates vying for Iowa’s new fifth district congressional seat debated last night in Carroll. The congressional district covers 32 counties in western Iowa and it has many more registered republican voters than democrats, so it’s likely the candidate who wins the G-O-P primary June 4th will become a congressman. There are four republicans in the race; three are legislators. House Speaker Brent Siegrist of Council Bluffs said the race was not about rhetoric, but results. State Senator John Redwine of Sioux City said he was running on a record of conservative leadership. State Senator Steve King of Kiron said he doesn’t try to see where the crowd’s going, he tries to get out in front of ’em. The other G-O-P candidate, Jeff Ballenger of Council Bluffs, said he was running because western Iowa has been left behind. All four republicans highlighted their “pro-life” views, as did the democrat in the race, Paul Shomshor of Council Bluffs.